Tracing single asperity wear in relation to macroscale friction during running-in

The running-in wear of a multi-asperity silicon carbide sphere-on-silicon flat interface is investigated at the micro- and nanoscale in relation to friction behaviour an unlubricated macroscale tribological system sliding unidirectional mode. Experiments contact simulations indicated that during was governed by roughness asperities on sphere their influence interfacial pressure. Specific ploughing tracks corresponded individual which, when worn-off, led lower, more stable mild atomic attrition-like rate. It also found single asperity are unable reliably predict for this system.